The 1805 Dispatches #21.DofE April 2021 6 See p12 for a key to this image. From Stephen Howarth, former Club Chairman I met Prince Philip just the once, in 1997, at the launch of my centenary history of Shell Transport & Trading, British parent of the Royal Dutch Shell group. The Duke and Her Majesty visited Shell Centre in London and charmed the many employees present, asking them many questions. I had a scheduled opportunity to give Her Majesty a copy of the book, which we looked through together until the chairman of the company, Mark (later Sir Mark) Moody-Stuart, said, "Stephen, you probably don't know, but Her Majesty has read the book already." I was so surprised that I simply looked at her wideeyed and said, "Have you really?" (No "Ma'am" or anything!) She smiled and replied, "Yes, it was very interesting." The chairman added, "That's why she could ask so many good questions." The Chairman then led the way to where the Queen would unveil a bust of the company's founder, and I followed eagerly. All of a sudden, I realised there was someone very close behind me: The Duke! And I was blocking his way! I stepped aside and said, "I'm very sorry, sir -- I didn't realise you were there. I was just so entranced by Her Majesty." He grinned and said, "That's quite all right. So was I." From Ian McKee Lieutenant Commander RCN (Rtd) I had the good fortune to meet HRH several times. He was very bright and only had to be told directions once. I recall repeating myself one time and, although he was usually polite, he assured me in no uncertain terms he heard me the �irst time. I got the impression he did not suffer fools gladly. I was a young ADC to the Governor General of Canada in 1956-57. Her Majesty and HRH came to Canada in 1957. They stayed at Government House. In 1957 his principal advisor/equerry was an ex-sergeant in the Kenya Police Force – and was he ever a bright cookie! The last to go to bed at night and �irst up in the morning. When you tried to brief him, he always already knew what was going on and had obviously told his boss. It was a sharp contrast to the Queen's staff who always seemed to me to have the job because their family had always had that job. She was seldom well briefed. I recall them entering the ballroom in Ottawa and the plan was for her to go counter-clockwise while HRH went clockwise. We had VIPs alerted to stay in various places around the room so they could be introduced to the Royals. I got the impression she had never been given her instructions and was left on her own. One day in Ottawa I was standing near the front door when the head of the Bank of Montreal arrived unexpectedly. He said he had been summoned. I sent for the Queen's equerry, a young Lord somebody who was in his room, having a rest after lunch. He told the butler he would be down in a few minutes when he was dressed. I remember sending the butler back to tell the snotty aristocrat that I had sent for a car and if he was not there in �ive minutes I was sending the banker back to his of�ice. I really liked HRH – an interesting fellow with an interesting reputation. When he was a junior of�icer, one time, he set off a thunder �lash at a mess dinner and blew a hole in the table. He had a Canadian friend who became an Air Commodore. They went off duck shooting. HRH asked to drive, and the Air Commodore reluctantly let him do so. He drove very quickly and soon lost his escort. They came back next morning with the trunk full of ducks which they showed me. The press soon arrived and asked HRH how he had done. I think the allowed limit at the time was two apiece. HRH's comment was just, 'Oh I got my limit'. They were at a reception at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa. A man came along in the line wearing a signi�icant tie. HRH said "Oh, I know the game. I'm supposed to recognize the tie." He paused for a moment and then said "Trinity College School, Port Hope". He was correct, to the amazement of the wearer. Shortly after another man came along with an even more unusual tie and again HRH was able to tell him what it was. The man blurted out "How in the world did you know that?" HRH just laughed and said "The Prime Minister just told me." The Right Honourable John Diefenbaker was standing beside him. In 1957 the Apostolic Delegate, because of his jurisdiction, was given the honorary title of Head of the Diplomatic Corps in Ottawa. He was a dif�icult little man who took his title too seriously and thus was a bane to us ADCs. The real Head of the Corps was the Ambassador of the Netherlands, a very �ine and capable diplomat. We had a large state reception at Government House and both were there as they should be. (Continued on p8)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTYyMzU=